There weren’t a lot of games where Dave and I picked differently last week, but he took advantage when he could.
Jim last week: 10-3-5
Dave last week: 11-2-5
Jim to-date: 27-16-9
Dave to-date: 26-17-9
Friday, October 30
Boston University at Merrimack
Jim’s pick: BU is coming off a road loss to Connecticut which should make them a favorite here. But I saw Merrimack play in their building last week and was impressed. Their game is made for that building.
MC 2, BU 1
Dave’s pick: I agree with everything Jim said, but I just can’t see BU dipping below .500.
BU 2, MC 1
Denver at Boston College
Jim’s pick: This will be the Eagles toughest oppose to date but I think BC has the edge on home ice.
BC 3, DU 1
Dave’s pick: This should be a terrific matchup, one that could be reprised in the NCAA tournament, but I’ll take the Eagles, especially at home.
BC 3, DU 2
Providence at Colgate
Jim’s pick: This will be a tough road test for the Friars but nothing they’ve done to date tells me they can’t win.
PC 4, CU 2
Dave’s pick: So much for the championship hangover. The Friars go to 5-0-1.
PC 4, CU 2
UMass Lowell at Minnesota-Duluth
Jim’s pick: Another marquis Friday night game in Hockey East. I think Lowell has the ability to win but think that the home ice is enough reason to pick Duluth.
UMD 3, UML 2
Dave’s pick: I had my Hockey East Homer hat on until I took a closer look at Duluth’s schedule and saw that only one of its games so far has been at home. That tells me the Bulldogs are better than their 2-1-2 record.
UMD 3, UML 2
Maine vs. Massachusetts (Capital City Classic, Trenton, N.J.)
Jim’s pick: The Massachusetts offense gives me plenty of reason to believe they can win in this in-season tournament.
UMass 4, Maine 2
Dave’s pick: I’ve got to give credit where credit is due. The Minutemen have surprised… no, make that the undefeated Minutemen have surprised me so far.
UMass 4, Maine 3
Saturday, October 31
New Hampshire at Merrimack
Jim’s pick: Historically, this has been a good opponent for UNH, but just because of the location, I’m going with the Warriors.
MC 3, UNH 2
Dave’s pick: Although the Wildcats gave up a four-goal, third-period lead against UMass last Friday, they came back to defeat nationally ranked Union, 5-2, one night later. They’re in the middle of six straight road games, but I remain a believer.
UNH 3, MC 2
Notre Dame at Connecticut
Jim’s pick: This is similar to Merrimack, where I believe the Huskies have a home-ice advantage.
UConn 3, ND 2
Dave’s pick: I’m going to agree. At a neutral site, I’d go with the Irish, but home ice prevails for UConn.
UConn 3, ND 2 (OT)
Northeastern at Vermont
Jim’s pick: The back end of a three-day home-and-home goes to the Catamounts.
UVM 3, NU 1
Dave’s pick: The Huskies’ season-opening win over Colgate is feeling more and more distant.
UVM 4, NU 2
Denver at Boston University
Jim’s pick: I think that Denver is the better team here but I am hoping BU is motivated, particularly if my pick of them to lose on Friday at Merrimack rings true.
BU 4, DU 2
Dave’s pick: The Terriers don’t seem to be hitting on all cylinders yet, so I’m going with Denver.
DU 3, BU 2
Providence at Colgate
Jim’s pick: As good as Providence is playing, I have a difficult time picking a road sweep against this Colgate team.
CU 3, PC 2
Dave’s pick: Not me. I’m getting out the broom.
PC 3, CU 2
UMass Lowell at Minnesota-Duluth
Jim’s pick: This one feels like a split to me. Just hoping I don’t pick it backwards.
UML 3, UMD 1
Dave’s pick: I’d been thinking of a Lowell sweep, but I’ve settling on a sweep the other way.
UMD 3, UML 2 (OT)
UMass/Maine vs. Princeton/Yale (Capital City Classic, Trenton, N.J.)
Jim’s pick: We will pick all of the potential scenarios here in a tournament I expect Yale to win.
UMass 3, PU 1; Yale 4, UMass 3; Yale 5, Maine 2; Maine 3, PU 2
Dave’s pick: Yale is the king of this tournament, Princeton the penniless peasant, and both Maine and UMass are lesser nobility somewhere in between.
UMass 4, PU 1; Yale 5, UMass 3; Yale 5, Maine 2; Maine 3, PU 1
Sunday, November 1
Norte Dame vs. Connecticut (at Brooklyn, N.Y.)
Jim’s pick: A special venue for this one and I see the Irish earning the split.
ND 4, UConn 2
Dave’s pick: Agreed. This isn’t a classic home-and-home series, but it’ll have the same expected outcome.
ND 3, UConn 2
Tuesday, November 3
Massachusetts at Boston College
Jim’s pick: The Eagles continue to roll at home.
BC 3, UMass 1
Dave’s pick: We’ll see if UMass’s strength in previous weeks continues. I doubt it.
BC 5, UMass 2
Wednesday, November 4
Merrimack at Bentley
Jim’s pick: The Warriors hope they don’t have the same fate as Northeastern. And I don’t think they will.
MC 2, Bentley 1
Dave’s pick: Give me the Warriors, even away from their comfy home barn.
MC 3, Bentley 2
